James joins from Assetz Capital, where he was an underwriter director working with borrowers to provide a tailored funding package in order to undertake residential property development.

He started his career at Yorkshire Bank, where he held a variety of roles over two decades before moving to National Australia Bank, where he was a commercial real estate manager.

“I am delighted to be joining Relendex, a firm that is clearly forward-thinking and looking to increase its footprint in the sector while also staying committed to its traditional property values,” said James.

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“I am looking forward to using my knowledge, experience and interpersonal skills to play my part in the next stage of Relendex’s development as a leading P2P lender.”

Paul Sonabend, executive chairman at Relendex, added: “James impressed us with his wealth of expertise as well as his strong sector relationships and track record in building and converting leads — all of which were key in our decision to bring James onboard.

“We are excited to welcome James and are confident he will prove to [be a] key asset as we progress to the next stage of our development.”